As the European Union accelerates its movement towards militarisation, the Black Shamrock is a call to not only protect our commitment to neutrality in Ireland but to expand and deepen our approach to principled neutrality as others would seek to use Russia’s criminal invasion of Ukraine to force a realignment with a new European security order when in fact, the Russian invasion signifies a profound failure of the current international security order created in the image of competing hegemons.
We deplore a security order that has placed the ordinary people of Ukraine in the devastating position of having to resort to arms.
We assert that there has never been a more pressing need to re-imagine local, regional and global security: an indivisible commitment to human and ecological security, including climate justice.
In the Gandhian spirit of ahimsa (non-violence as a way of life and spirit of self-care), we also invite wearers of the Black Shamrock to recognise the deep links between structures of and conditions for violence (e.g. patriarchy, capitalism, the security state, the military industrial complex) and our collective efforts to expand freedoms to make individual and community decisions that contribute to mutual flourishing of people and planet. We can do so by embodying non-violence in all areas of life and struggle, and in our expressions of citizenship through care for and protection of the environment, solidarity with peoples in struggle, and modes of consumption e.g. supporting campaigns like the Palestinian BDS movement or Fairtrade.
We wear the Black Shamrock as a statement of our recommitment to a new vision of ‘human security’ founded on human solidarity, social justice, human rights, the rights of nature and a post-extractivist vision of prosperity achieved within the nine planetary boundaries, including a restoration of the stability of our climate system in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement.
The original Black Shamrock campaign back in 2006 was prompted by a need to make visible citizen opposition to a series of Government-sanctioned attacks on Ireland’s neutrality. These attacks included the use of Shannon Airport by US military on their way to and from wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere, and for stopover flights engaged in illegal rendition.
The symbol also highlighted successful resistance to Government-sanctioned investment in defense software, notably the decommissioning of the Raytheon Software Plant in Derry.
The Black Shamrock symbol and campaign has taken on a life of its own as a nation/international peace symbol. It was used to generate funds for disparate peace campaigns extending to solidarity with earth protectors campaigning against fracking in Leitrim. Over 50,000 are already in circulation!
In the interim years – while we can celebrate opposition to Raytheon – the arms trade has, nevertheless, become more embedded within our economies across the island.
The European Union’s drift towards militarisation has been deeply influenced by the international arms trade lobby at a time marked by growing popular demands for a new vision of human security founded on Human Rights, Climate Justice, the Planetary Boundaries and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
In 2022, we also join with supporters of the Downpatrick Declaration in calling for a recommitment to the Republic’s constitutional commitment to ‘the pacific settlement of international disputes...[and] the generally recognized principles of international law.’ (Article 29) and to the Declaration of Support for the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, in which leaders on both parts of the island endorsed ‘exclusively peaceful means of resolving differences on political issues’ and rejected ‘any use or threat of force’. (Declaration of Support, section 4).
Foyle Ethical Investment Campaign (FEIC)
Derry Anti-War Coalition (DAWC)
Swords To Ploughshares (STOP)
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The Black Shamrock is a symbol of resistance. In wearing it, all of those who do so declare opposition to any Irish involvement, be it economic, strategic or logistical, to war. We also call for a new socially and ecologically informed vision of human security, which places economics and the state at the service of human rights, the rights of nature and regenerative economies.
The Black Shamrock campaign is a grassroots non-party political, non-partisan campaign to highlight the views of the majority of people in Ireland and the rest of the world; that we want no part in war and occupation and instruct our leaders to follow Irish and International law and immediately withdraw support from such inhuman folly. The campaign welcomes the support of members of all political parties and none.
The Black Shamrock symbolises our mourning for all those who died as a result of Irish collaboration in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and all those who have died and are dying still as a result of the devastation those wars have unleashed, for which the airports at Shannon, Aldergrove and Baldonnel became “pit-stops”. It also symbolises our resistance to the ongoing deliberate assault on Irish Neutrality.
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There can be no neutrality between democracy and autocracy which is what the war in Ukraine is about.
ReplyDeleteBarry says "There can be no neutrality between democracy and autocracy". Barry, I am not one for taking a 'if you're not with us you're against us' Bush-style stance but if you are against neutrality does this mean "There can be no neutrality between democracy and apartheid"?
DeleteYes you guessed it, I'm talking about the situation in Israel and Palestine. Your views on the Quill point to a somewhat pro-Israeli stance despite your typical defensive position, when challenged, of claiming some sort of neutrality.
Do you accept Amnesty International's charge of Apartheid against the state of Israel? Are you neutral or against this apartheid? Are you against this injustice or do you take an a la carte position when it comes to human rights abuses? I think we should know given your pontification above. Should we take you seriously?
I couldn't agree more with your sentiments. An Taioseach, Micheal Martin and his predecessors and successors are trying to play ball with the so-called big boys, many whose intentions are, like those of Nazi Germany, is the destruction of Russia. A compromise must be reached in Ukraine, in the meantime we should play no part in this malaise. We must maintain a policy of neutrality. WW11 was an exception against fascism and de Valera steered a neutral, though allies sympathetic ship. Putin is not Hitler, despite the warped imaginations of many, he might not be a nice man but ideologically he is not Hitler. Those who say he is understand little or anything about political ideology. We have collaborated far too many times with the war mongers of the USA and UK who, might I remind people, are still uninvited guests in the six counties, just to stay well in! Long live the day when the planet is free of wars and armies and their causes, capitalism.
ReplyDeleteCaoimhin O'Muraile
The Republic of Ireland as a modern liberal democracy cannot be neutral in terms of values when an aggressor such as Putin motivated by imperialistic nationalism invades without provocation a fellow democracy.
DeleteI am not advocating that it joins NATO for both historical and pragmatic reasons. But it has to be a part of any EU and/or UN response to Putin's criminal aggression.
Barry,
DeleteAre you going to do the decent thing and answer the questions/points Simon put to you or are you going to ignore them....?
I think for Ireland to be effectively neutral it needs to maintain its autonomy so that it can speak with some degree of authenticity about foreign affairs. When Amnesty International described Israel as an apartheid state the government in Dublin said there needed to be moderation in language. I feel that is because it is compromised by not being able to say what it actually feels. In situations like Russia's war on Ukraine, who is to speak up on behalf of the victims of Ukrainian war crimes when the consensus demands that only Russian war crimes are addressed?
ReplyDeleteIt appears to me, Anthony, the 26 county government are shit scared of upsetting the USA. The critisism of Putin has been, while to a certain extent justified, a little over the top. Not a word of condemnation aimed at Saudi Arabia, allies both economically and militarily of the US, over their wanton destruction and murder of Yemen. The Brits are the same, but expect little else from them who have been so far up Washingtons arse since 1945 it beggars belief. Harold Wilson a minor honourable exception.
ReplyDeleteThe hypocricy of the 26 county administration stinks, no mention of Yemenese refugees. The Brits have stripped Roman Abromavich of Chelsea, yet the Saudis own Newcastle United and not a murmour, as pointed out by Davy Clinton.
As for Israeli murder of Palestinian non combatants, as you point out the Dublin Government said "there needs to be a moderation of language". This is, of course bollocks. What they really mean is; if we are too aggressive in our condemnation of Israel we might upset (pretend to be Irish) Joe Biden. The 26 county administration therefore appear to be heaping all their anger on Russia. Sorry Vlad, you have to take the stick for the Saudis, Israelis and your own mistaken actions.
Caoimhin O'Muraile
Simon
ReplyDeleteNo one can be neutral between apartheid and democracy; apartheid being the taxonomy of racial categories and grid of control measures such as the Group Areas Act, Population Registration Acts, pass laws and bans on inter-racial marriage etc. which constituted the bases and structure of South Africa between 1947 and 1994. The indigenous African population did not have the vote Such racially based governance was the norm of course in the Jim Crow era of the former Confederate States of America. But I am sure you are aware of all that.
No matter how oppressive the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and blockade of the Gaza Strip are; it does not, in my view, approximate to the apartheid system in South Africa; not least because the Israel/Palestine conflict is not a racial one. That means that differences in skin pigmentation does come into the equation as Jews and Arabs are tribes or ethnic groups not races. Also as pointed out above, Blacks in South Africa did not have the vote. There is universal suffrage in Israel.
So to answer your question, Simon I do not accept the Amnesty International definition of Israel as an apartheid state. I have always condemned the Occupation, the building of settlements, police and military brutality and the rest. While there are aspects of the Occupation that increasingly resemble a form of apartheid as Desmond Tutu and others have observed they do not add up to the totality of apartheid, South African style.
I am neither pro-Israel or pro-Palestinian. In my view both Jews and Arabs are indigenous to historic Palestine. Both are entitled to live in safe spaces; in peace and security in independent states or even a confederal arrangement for Palestine I do not pick a side in the manner of picking a football team to support or because "themmuns" support the other side.
Regarding democratic agendas, it was the clear and unequivocal demand of the ANC and the international Anti-Apartheid Movement that one person, one vote be instituted in South Africa and that all the apartheid era laws be abolished. By contrast, the aims of the BDS campaign are, to say the least, ambiguous - is it the end of the Occupation or that of the State of Israel.
And talking about democracy; it would be great if Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza were able to exercise the franchise for the first time since 2006.
Barry, A system of apartheid is an institutionalized regime of oppression and domination by one racial group over another. You say the Israel/Palestine conflict is not a racial one. Legally 'racial discrimination' is defined as discrimination on the grounds of colour, race, nationality or ethnic origins. Amnesty International demonstrates that Israeli authorities treat Palestinians as an inferior racial group who are defined by their non-Jewish, Arab status. This racial discrimination is cemented in laws which affect Palestinians across Israel and the OPT.
DeleteEither you understand what racism and apartheid mean and are trying to obscure the fact through falsehood or you don't understand it at all. Either way it is clear you have decided it is not apartheid first and then you have gone looking for arguments to back your position as an afterthought.
Amnesty's investigation details how Israel enforces a system of oppression and domination against the Palestinian people wherever it has control over their rights. This includes Palestinians living in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT), as well as displaced refugees in other countries.
I see you mentioned Desmond Tutu in your argument that Israel's treatment of the Palestinians does not amount to apartheid, a leading figure who fought valiantly against apartheid in South Africa. Tutu said "I know first-hand that Israel has created an apartheid reality within its borders and through its occupation. The parallels to my own beloved South Africa are painfully stark indeed".
Massive seizures of Palestinian land and property, unlawful killings, forcible transfer, drastic movement restrictions, and the denial of nationality and citizenship to Palestinians are all components of a system which amounts to apartheid under international law.
It is not a case of "themmuns" as many Israelis speak out against the injustices against the Palestinian people. They and unionists like John Taylor speak out so passionately so don't give me your weasel words of "themmuns". Football teams do not murder in the thousands nor have any football team used white phosphorous on civilian populations.
It is an obvious and vicious apartheid.
As Desmond Tutu also said when talking of Israel/Palestine "Those who turn a blind eye to injustice actually perpetuate injustice. If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor."
I put it to you Barry that not only are you not neutral you go beyond that. You may be able to sleep soundly at night repeating your mantras of denial, excusing apartheid and all that entails as if it is a polite disagreement but the many Palestinians afraid of being evicted or slaughtered are not so relaxed or comfortable.
US formally accuses Russia of war crimes in Ukraine
ReplyDeleteThe sheer chutzpah of the US administration. Blinken cites ‘indiscriminate attacks and attacks deliberately targeting civilians, as well as other atrocities’.
His administration approves this when the Israelis and Saudis are culpable. He should be called Blinkers not Blinken.
AM,
DeleteAnd probably why Putin believes he can get away with it.